I appreciate the reviews that I received with the last chapter… I hope this one is well received as well…
DISCLAIMER WITH THE PREVIEW…
CHAPTER 10
Slowly, she began to become aware of consciousness. She felt soreness at first- she hurt over. Then she became aware of her bonds. Her hands and feet were numb with her ankles and wrists ached. She felt something filling her mouth that had a very a sour taste, and she couldn't spit it out. She concentrated on her breathing to keep it slow, even, and shallow- just as if she were still unconscious. When she attempted to slit her eyes for a view of her surrounds, she found she was in total darkness.
Where the hell am I? How the hell did I get here? How long have I been here? These thoughts flooded her mind. Susan began to search her memories as she tried to find those answers. She remembered her reports to the Captain about last night's shift, had breakfast at O'Malley's, and walked to her quarters. She had been very tired and hoped she would get some restful sleep before… her date with Talia. Talia, her mind cried. Susan prayed that 'they'- whoever they are-had left Talia alone. She swore she would kill them if they hadn't.
Her thoughts were interrupted with a sound of someone approaching her. She struggled to tamp down her fear, and feign continued unconsciousness. Through her closed eyelids she could tell that a light had been turned on.
"Aw, I see you are finally awake. Good. I was beginning to think I had given you too much Delerium," a voice rasped near her ear. "As much as I would want to take advantage of the package… Alas, I am forced to leave it unopened for another. He should be here soon… I promise. But for now, it is time for you to go back to sleep," the raspy voice laughed. It was a very cold, evil sound.
She felt a sting at the side of her neck as she was injected with something. She exerted as much strength as possible against her restraints, but the drug was fast acting and her struggles became futile. Her last thought before loosing her grasp on conscious reality was: Talia, I… love you.
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Talia startled awake. For the briefest of moments she thought she heard Susan's voice. Her eyes darted around the darken quarters hoping that what had just transpired was but a dream. But she found herself to be alone in her quarters. She stood and went to the ensuit to splash some water on her face, and maybe get some aspirin. Her head ached from all of her emotional upheaval. Staring into the mirror, she hardly recognized the pale, drawn, puffy-eyed face that stared back at her. Her heart sunk as she realized it had not been a dream.
Since returning to her quarters, Talia had been curled up in a ball on her couch as she tried to control her… fear for Susan, and the hole her absence caused in her heart. A hole that grew with each passing moment that Susan was not there to fill it. She never thought loving someone could hurt this much. For four days, she hadn't been able to take Susan into her arms and tell her how much she loved her. She had cried herself to sleep. Sighing, she returned to the couch and pulled a blanket from the back of the couch and wrapped herself in it. She felt so cold to the very depths of her soul. Susan, where are you?
For once in her life she wished her "talents" were different. She was a close contact telepath. In other words, the strength of her talent was short distance, or tactile contact- thus the dependency she had for her gloves and the outfits… to dampen causal thoughts, and contact. For these reasons alone, she had never minded the laws for the necessity of the gloves. But this day she wished her talents lay in the realm of search and retrieval. She had opened herself up, let her mind reach out, and tried to reach out to Susan, but all she got for her attempt was a pounding headache.
"Susan," she whispered aloud this time. "Where are you, my beloved?" She wrapped her arms around her legs, and rested her chin on her knees as she tried to get warm. Her heart ached so badly within her chest that it made her breaths to become short, ragged gasps. Tears began to silently slide down her cheeks and drip on her knees. Surely, fate cannot be so cruel… just when I find her to snatch her away from me. Her tears became soul-rending sobs. Susan, where are you? She mentally cried. I just want to have you here so I can wrap my arms around you and tell you how much I love you… That all the stars have lost their glow because you are not here… My beloved, my heart is hardly able to continue to beat because you are not here. She had planned to tell Susan all of this and more this evening.
It took several minutes for the chiming of her door lock to pull her out of her reverie. Her immediate response was to just ignore it. She really didn't want to see anyone, especially in this emotional state. Then a thought crossed her mind as the noise continued. It might be Mr. Garibaldi. Throwing the blanket aside, she jumped off the couch and rushed towards the door, pausing to wipe her cheeks dry before she opened it. Her heart plunged when she found only Dr. Franklin, and Lou Welch at her door. Without a word she turned and, she retreated back into the room to the haven of her couch. The iciness of fear permeated her soul once more. She wrapped the blanket around herself seeking warmth from its folds. Still, she did not want to acknowledge his presence. She was afraid that if she did, he would be the one sent to give her the bad… no terrible news. She cannot be dead… I cannot take it if she were… dead, echoed in her head.
Stephen was shocked as he took in her disheveled appearance. Her hair was mussed, her evening dress was wrinkled, but what had disturbed him the most was the pain he saw in her eyes. This was not what he expected to find. He had received a cryptic message from Michael a few minutes ago, and so he was here. Now, he was even more confused.
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Stephan had been reviewing some lab tests on one of his patients when his link beeped.
"Franklin here."
"Doc," the voice of Michael Garibaldi came over the link. "I just wanted to inform you about a situation that has arisen. Call me back at my office on the Babcom link on a secure line… now!" He had stressed the last word.
Stephan stepped into his office, and called to the computer, "Contact Mr. Garibaldi's office Gold Link." A few moments later, Michael's face filled the screen. Stephen saw the worry etched on his face. This is not good, Stephan thought.
"Doc, Commander Ivanova is missing and we believe she had been kidnapped." Michael paused to allow his words to sink in. "I need you to be ready to response at a moment's notice once we find her."
Stephan heard the concern in his voice and it did not escape him that Michael had said ' once we find her' not 'if we find her'. He hoped Michael would be right. He pulled his musing back to the present. "What happened?"
"To be honest, we are trying to determine that now," his voice filled with slightly contained anger. "We are searching the station now."
Stephan knew the Security Chief well, and he would not want to be on the receiving end of his wrath especially when it was related to someone that he cared about.
"In the meantime, I need a favor." He had not been happy with the way Talia had looked the last time he had saw her. He had seen that look before… on the battlefield. "I need you to go check on Ms. Winters." He was concerned she was in shock, but didn't have the time to go check on her himself.
"Ms. Winters?" Stephan asked confused.
"I don't have time to explain right now," Michael said. When he noticed the confusion on the doctor's face, he yielded… a little. "It is a long story, but suffice it to say she was the one to report the Commander missing. She hasn't take her disappearance… very well," He paused. He would not betray either of these women. He loved both of them too much. "Stephan, please, just go check on her."
Stephan couldn't wait to hear that story. He knew for a fact that the Commander and the telepath didn't like nor tolerate each other. He remembered the recent incident involving a young, rogue telepath. He heard Michael call his name. "Huh… What?"
"Stephan, please, just do it. I don't have the time to do it myself," he admitted.
Stephan heard concern in his voice, "Okay. I go in just a few minutes. Where is she? Her quarters?" He began to gather a few things to take with him.
"Yes. I have her under security surveillance, and Lou is there right now, " Michael replied. "And Stephan keep this information unwraps. I don't know if the kidnapper or kidnappers are aware that we know she's missing. The Commander had the next several day off, and I am sure he or she was hoping to have those days to do what they needed to do to cover their tracks."
"Of course," he promised.
"I'll keep you updated." Stephan noticed Zach Allen as he walked into view. "Well, Doc, I have to go. Let me know how your 'visit' goes, would you?"
"Sure," Stephan said as the link ended.
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As he pulled a med scanner from his pocket, Stephan walked over to the telepath's side. "Ms. Winters…" He got no response. "Talia…" still now response. Stephan set beside her. He reached out and gently shook her shoulder. "Talia…"
"What can I do for you, Dr. Franklin?" Her voice was the only thing that acknowledged his presence. Her tone held no emotion. Then she raised her head from her knees to gaze at him briefly before returning her chin to rest on her knees.
Talia struggled to wrap herself in her usual distant, unemotional, telepathic façade. She took several cleansing breaths as she tried to get her turbulent emotions under control. She didn't want to lose control in front of the physician. It was a battle she was at the moment barely winning.
He finished the scan and found no physical problems except a slightly increased blood pressure, and heart rate. His visual observations were another story. Her skin was very pale, her eyes were red and swollen; pain and devastation filled her gaze when she wasn't looking at him directly. He watched as she attempted to lock her emotions away once again, and coolness… no this time, he noticed coldness began to fill her features. "Actually, I was going to ask what can I do for you?"
She looked up at him questioningly then she sensed why he was here. "Mr. Garibaldi sent you, didn't he?" She watched as a brief questioning look that turned to understanding then slight anger cross his face and his thoughts. "Doctor, I didn't 'scan' you. You are leaking that thought quite loudly," she said as a way of trying to reassure him. She noticed his slightly raised eyebrow, as he understood. "Well, you can report to him that I am just fine." She paused before continuing to draw a ragged breath. "He needs to concentrate on finding the Commander." Her voice broke slightly. She felt his concern wash over her. She stood and moved to put some distance from him and those feelings of his. She moved to stand before the picture of the Milky Way that hung on the opposite wall, and tried to lose herself in the swirling paints.
"Ms. Winters, as a doctor, I can tell you are very upset." No response. He decided to try another approach. "Mr. Garibaldi said you were the one to report the Commander miss… disappearance." Still silence. He began to think that she was still not going to talk to him. Then he heard a whispery sound. He leaned forward to hear her words.
"She had agreed to help me celebrate the successful negotiation of a recent business deal. When I arrived at her quarters, there was no answer. I found that to be odd. I contacted Mr. Garibaldi, and he found…" her voice broke and she was unable to continue. Tears flooded her eyes and she had to blink frequently to keep them from flowing down her cheeks. She refused to cry in front anyone especially the Doctor. She strengthened her grasp on her emotions once again, and pushed them to back of her mind. Now was not the time to deal with them. She would deal with them once Susan was returned to her. She had to be strong for Susan… It is what Susan would want her to do. "I am fine. I am sure you have other people who need your attention," she dismissed.
Stephan had watched as the telepathy drew herself up, and straightened her shoulders. So, he was not surprised by her dismissal. Reaching into the bag that he had brought with him, he pulled out a sedative. He went to the kitchen returned with a glass of water. He shook one of the pills into his hand, and set the bottle one the table. "Ms. Winters, it is my medical opinion that you have had quite a shock to your system. I am giving you two choices: you accompany me to Med-lab and let me run a few tests, or you take this medication and let me come back to check on you in a few hours."
"What is that?" Talia asked as she turned to see that the doctor was holding a white pill in the palm of one hand, and a glass of water in the other.
"It's a mild sedative," he saw the defiance in her gaze. "Refuse either of these options, and I will have you escorted to the Med-lab." He gave her his patent 'refusal to follow my orders will not be accepted' look. "I noticed Mr. Welch outside, and I am sure he will be more than willing to follow my orders."
Talia glared at him hoping he would wilt underneath it. But he didn't even blink. She began to realize how serious he was about this. The last place she wanted to be was Med-lab and all the pain that radiated there. She wasn't up to keep other people's emotions out. She decided to give in to his request… this time. Wordlessly, she accepted the pill and the glass of water, and swallowed both.
"Do I need to ask you to open your mouth, and show me that you swallowed it?" Stephan quipped.
"No, Dr. Franklin. I took your medication," her words dripped with sarcasm. She handed the glass back to him. "I believe your services are no longer required." She dismissed him once again. She turned her back to him.
Silently, Stephan set the glass on the nearby table and gathered his equipment. He paused at the door. "Ms. Winters, Captain Sheridan, and Chief Garibaldi will find her. They are tenacious when it comes to something or someone that they care about. Try to get some rest, and I want you to try to eat something. I will see you in a few hours." With that he left.
He nodded to Lou as he walked by. There is definitely a story here…
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Talia was already feeling the effects of the sedative. She decided to get a little more comfortable. She took a quick shower, and changed into a pair of pajamas. As she drifted off to sleep, she mentally called out, Susan… come back to me, my love… Come back to me.
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He was at his desk working when he received notification from the computer that he had received a Gold Channel message. There was no indication as whom the sender was. He secured his office with a flick of a switch. Clicking on the link, the message contained only two sentences:
I have her. You need to come.
He had been waiting weeks for this message. If he was honest with himself, he had been waiting most of his life for this message. Unconsciously, a cold smile filled his being as he thought about her- Commander Susan Katiana Ivanova- the bane of his existence. The time of his revenge was at hand.
"Davids, please, step in here for a moment," he called over the intercom system as he released the security.
"Yessir," was the response and the door opened a few moments later. Thomas Davids stood silently waiting for his boss to acknowledge his presence.
"I need you to arrange transport for me on the first thing that is available to Babylon 5. I don't care about the amenities. I just need to get there ASAP," he said without looking up from his work with the computer.
"Yessir," Davids replied and turned to leave. At the door he hesitated and asked, "Sir, shall I arrange your return passage as well?"
"I'm not sure how long my business will take. I will contact you as soon as I'm ready to return. Dismissed," he said as he looked up at the man for the first time.
"Yessir," David responded and left the room. His shoulders slumped for a moment before proceeding to his desk and began carrying out the orders. Thomas Davids had the misfortune of having been appointed to this posting two years ago. In that time he had never seen his boss- Chase MacArthur- smile, and now he wish he hadn't. It was pure… evil. He shuttered as he sat down at his desk began the task he had been assigned.
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Chase MacArthur began to set his plans into action. For the last several weeks he had been letting keys people know that his mother's health was failing, and he wasn't sure how much longer she would live. He sent a message to his immediate supervisor at Psi Corps Rogue Retrieval Research Department that he needed take some person time, and he would contact her as soon as he had a timeframe of how much time he required. He, also, sent a message to Walters to update him on his pending cases. With that done, he closed down his office and secured all of his research. He stopped at Davids' desk and received a copy of his departure information. Commander Ivanova, I am so looking forward to our meeting once again.
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Four hours later found Michael Garibaldi outside Captain Sheridan's office. He stopped to take a deep breath before proceeding into it. He found the Captain standing before the viewport staring out into the darkness of the abyss. He noticed the Captain's appearance. His EarthForce jacket was open. His shirt had several buttons undone. His hair was mussed. Garibaldi knew that the Captain had been running his hands through it. It was the only outward sign of the Captain's agitation about this situation.
Michael cleared his throat.
John had sensed Michael's presence as soon as he came into the room. When he didn't speak as soon as he entered the room, John knew his news wasn't good. Turning, he took in the grim look on Michael's face and knew his assumption was right. Buttoning his shirt and jacket, he returned to his desk. "Anything, Michael?"
"Nothing good to report I'm afraid, Captain." Michael found that he couldn't look the Captain in the eyes. "We are reviewing the security data files, but so far no luck. The door mechanism indicated two entries into her quarters this morning at 0815, and 0830. The entries were made with her Ident-card. Several of the delta staff saw her at O'Malley's after she left C&C, and the owner confirmed she had breakfast. We have reviewed the secure-cam files for that area, but nothing out of the ordinary was seen." Michael began to pace the floor.
"There wasn't a direct camera view of the Commander's quarters. There is now," his voice was filled with much regret. He blamed himself for this. If only he hadn't pulled the detail, or at least planted a secure-cam outside of her quarters. He rubbed his head trying to get his feelings under control once again. He tamped them down. He would deal with them later after he found Susan.
He began to review for the Captain the things he set into motion so far. "I have called in just about every favor I have throughout the Galaxy, and still no indication as to who or why someone would want to do this."
"I have done the same thing, Michael, and I am hitting the same brick wall," John replied. He had been on the COM since leaving Susan's quarters. He had been calling in favors left and right, but still no answers... not one. The people he trusted attempted to reassure him that they had not heard any increased interest in his Executive Officer. "She seems to be under the radar at the moment."
Michael nodded at the Captain's words. He continued to report. "Zack and the others are rounding up snitches as we speak. We are in the process of searching every ship, freighter, and tug docked on station, but Captain they have at least a 10-12 hour head start. C&C is pulling the records on all of the ships that have departed since this morning. I have friends at most of their destinations so far. I have contacts that are going to check them out as soon as they reach their destination. The only luck," if you want to call it luck, he added to himself, "… we have is that it has been a fairly light twelve hours."
John paused for a moment of thought. "How many do you have reviewing the secure-cam files?'
"Not enough," Michael replied. "There are hundreds of secure-cams throughout the station. But I have as many of eyes on them as I can spare. Why?"
John paused as if he was trying to make a decision. "Remember when we had those bombings on the station, and we had no idea as to who the culprit was, and Susan availed herself on the services of Brother Theo…" He paused as he watched Michael began to understand where he was going.
"Yea, without his and the other brothers help we could have lost the station," Michael replied. He hit his com-link. "Garibaldi to Security."
"Gibbs here," was the response.
"Gibbs bring all the secure-cam data crystals to the Captain's office. Reassign all of the reviewers to the search teams."
"You got it, Chief."
"Garibaldi out," and he tapped the link closed.
Michael stepped to the Babcom unit and inserted the data crystal he had brought with him. "I met with everyone who had been on the Commander's security detail to see if they remembered anything that they didn't report before… looking for the smallest detail." Keying the activation of the unit, a secure-cam vid began to play. It showed a deliveryman carrying what appeared to be flowers and rounded the corner near the Commander's quarters. He passed back by the cam a few moments later. He paused looked over his shoulder, and then continued down the hallway. The timestamp showed it had been recorded almost a week ago.
"Lou had been on the detail that day. The only thing he can remember is that he didn't recognize the man. He also noticed that the deliveryman didn't even acknowledge his presence." Michael noticed the Captain's questioning look. "Usually, people do one of two things when the pass a security officer. They look at you and gesture some sort of acknowledgement-speak, nod, smile, etc…- or they look anywhere but where you are. Most people who do the latter have, or had trouble with law enforcement. At the time, Lou didn't think much of it but now he's not so sure."
"Were you able to get a shot of his face?" Sheridan asked.
"No, and the other thing is that we have no images of him returning to the florist." Michael finished, and removed the data crystal.
Just then Gibbs arrived, and handed the data crystal container to the Garibaldi, "Everyone is reassigned, Chief, and Zach said he needed to see you when you get a chance. He said he needed to ask you a question, but it isn't something urgent." He nodded to the Captain and then left.
"Michael, do you really think the deliveryman or the person who sent the flowers really had something to do with this?" He was unable to hide the skepticism in his voice.
Michael knew he was gasping at straws, but straws were all that he had at this point. Sighing, he flopped into the nearby chair. "I know I am grasping at straws, but it is all I have at this point." He glanced at the chrono display saw it was 0330. "I guess it is too early to wake up Mr. Tudor…"
"Mr. Tudor?' John asked confused coming out of his reverie. He had placed a call to Brother Theo as soon as Gibbs had arrived, and was impatiently awaiting his reply.
"He owns Daily Moments," Michael explained. "The place the flowers came from." He pulled a card from his jacket pocket, and handed it to the Captain. "This is the card I found with the roses on Susan's dining table. I'm hoping he can tell us who sent them."
The name of the business was embossed on the card. John read the note:
'Hope you enjoy these blooms that are as gorgeous as you are.'
He handed the card back to Michael. "Michael, wake him up… Wake up whomever you need to… Just find her, Damnit!" He pounded his fist on the desk.
At that precise moment, Brother Theo entered the office. He didn't acknowledge the outburst. Instead, he said, "Captain, I believe you called. I apology for the delay in returning it. I was on walkabout for the evening, and my staff had a little trouble locating me. What may I do for you?"
As he stood, John had the decency to blush slightly at his outburst being seen by a man of the cloth. "Thank you for coming, Brother Theo. I am sorry for the late hour." He motioned to the other seat at his desk.
After Brother Theo set down, the Captain and Garibaldi began to fill him in on recent events related to the Commander. He scowl deepened with each detail that was relayed. When they finished, he looked off in the distance for a few moments with an unfocused look to his eyes. It disappeared quickly as he turned to Garibaldi, "Mr. Garibaldi do those data crystals contain all surveillance information for the last two weeks?"
"Aw, no, Brother Theo. It is just the ones for the last twenty-four hours," Michael replied. "And this one," he indicated the crystal that had the delivery on it, "is the one with the man we are going to try and track down."
"These will get us started. Please, pull the other crystals and have them brought to us. Also, copy that crystal and send a copy as well. We will see if we can find him as well." Brother Theo stood, and the others stood as well. "Captain, we will contact you as soon as we have something." With that he stood, picked up the data crystal container, and bowed to first the Captain and then the Security Chief. "I like the Commander. I hope that we can be of assistance," he said and departed.
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The intrigue continues… But I how a few questions have been answered…
More to come soon… as long as the muse continues to move in the right way…